WINDSHIELD LEAF HOLDERS

Abstract

Windshield sheet retainer clip (5) comprising a spring-loaded metal clip (1) having a back (10) and two wings (11) connected to the back, each of said wings (11) having a free end (12) opposite said back, said free ends (11a) approaching each other, wherein said free ends (11a) of the wings (11) have external rounded returns (12) for receiving tabs (31) of wing-spreading levers (3), said clip comprising a pair of padding elements (2) covering said rounded returns (11a), keeping said free ends apart from each other and forming protectors for said windshield sheets. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: WINDSHIELD SHEET HOLDERS technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of windshield manufacturing and more particularly to a clamp intended to hold the assembly of the different layers or sheets of a laminated windshield during the autoclave process. Previous technique

[0002] The manufacture of windshields requires several tools such as deburring tools and devices for holding the layers of laminated windshields for their passage in the autoclave in order to bond a PVB polymer layer between two layers of glass to make the windshield. Technical problem

[0003] The tools intended for holding the layers of the windshields are mainly metal spring clips which are placed on the edges of the layers of the windshields in order to keep them applied against each other during the passage of these windshields through the autoclave.

[0004] Such clamps allow for the assembly of glass and PVB sheets and enable the expulsion of air bubbles when the windshield passes through the autoclave oven. The edge of the clamp is specially smooth to prevent scratching the glass. There are also clamps made with a metal clip having a back A and two wings B, C, with notches D formed at the junction of the back and the wings so that the clip receives plastic paddles E, preventing contact between the metal of the wings and the windshield. The plastic paddles have an operating lever El that allows the wings of the clamp to be spread apart to position it on the windshield sheets to be assembled.The manufacture of such specialized clips is expensive, and sometimes the paddles and the clip separate, which can scratch the outer layers of the windshields when handling them and applying the clips around the perimeter. Similarly, clips of the type known as binder clips, even with smooth edges, can scratch windshields when used. Description of the invention

[0005] In view of this situation, the present disclosure proposes a windshield sheet retainer comprising a spring-loaded metal clip of the drawing clip type, having a back and two wings connected to the back, each of said wings having a free end opposite said back, said free ends approaching one another on the other hand, for which said free ends of the wings have external rounded returns for receiving wing-spreading lever tabs, said retaining clip having a pair of padding elements covering said rounded returns, keeping said free ends apart from each other and forming protections for said windshield sheets.

[0006] Preferably, the padding elements are generally tubular in shape, are provided with an axial slot separating a rear wall from at least one rounded front wall and are inserted onto said rounded returns which fit into said axial slot of said padding.

[0007] The padding elements advantageously include transverse slots for the passage of connecting rods between the legs and a loop for the levers.

[0008] The padding elements are advantageously polymer parts, in particular a polymer resistant to windshield curing temperature with a low coefficient of thermal expansion and resistant to friction such as Polybutylene terephthalate PBT.

[0009] The padding elements are preferably molded parts.

[0010] Such a solution makes it possible to solve the problems posed by known solutions and to preserve windshields during their handling. Brief description of the drawings

[0011] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments and from the analysis of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] [Fig-1] shows an exploded view of the clamp and padding of the present disclosure;

[0013] [Fig.2] shows a detailed perspective view of the padding of [Fig.1];

[0014] [Fig. 3] shows a perspective view of the clamp fitted with the opposite padding of leaves from a windshield. Description of the implementation methods

[0015] The drawings and description below contain elements that can not only serve to better understand the present invention, but also contribute to its definition, if necessary.

[0016] Reference is now made to [Fig. 1], which represents a clip comprising a spring-loaded metal clip 1 of the drawing clip type. This metal clip has a back 10 and two wings 11 connected to the back, each of said wings 11 having a free end 12 opposite said back, said free ends 12 approaching each other and in contact with each other when the clip is at rest.

[0017] The clip includes levers 3 for spreading the wings 11. These levers have a gripping loop 33, tabs 31, and rods 32 connecting the tabs to the loop. The tabs 31 are received in rounded external returns 12 formed on the free ends lia of the wings 11.

[0018] According to this disclosure, said retaining clip includes padding elements 2 which cover said rounded returns 12 on the free ends lia of the wings of the drawing clip and which keep said free ends apart from each other.

[0019] These paddings form protections for said windshield sheets to prevent the clips from scratching them.

[0020] The padding elements 2 are generally tubular in shape and are provided with an axial slot 22 separating a rear wall 20d from at least one rounded front wall 20a, 20b, 20c to slide onto the returns so that said rounded returns fit into the axial slot 22 itself being tubular.

[0021] To allow the passage of the rods 32 and to enable the levers to be operated, the padding elements according to the example have transverse slots 21 for the passage of the connecting rods 32 between the tabs 31 and the loops 33 of the levers 3. These slots are not essential if it is not necessary to operate the levers to bring them closer together, for example. In this case, simple notches at the lip between the walls of the padding element can be provided.

[0022] The padding elements are made of a heat-resistant polyethylene terephthalate (PBT) polymer material in which the windshield sheets are bonded. The material used is molded to give the padding elements their shape.

[0023] The material of the padding elements is in particular a polymer resistant to windshield curing temperatures with a low coefficient of thermal expansion and resistant to friction, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PBT). Industrial application

[0024] The invention is not limited to the examples described above, only by way of example, but encompasses all the variants that a person skilled in the art may consider within the framework of the annexed claims.

Claims

Demands

1. Windshield (5) sheet retainer clip (51, 52, 53) comprising a spring-loaded metal clip (1) having a back (10) and two wings (11) connected to the back, each of said wings (11) having a free end (12) opposite said back, said free ends (1a) approaching each other, wherein said free ends (1a) of the wings (11) have external rounded returns (12) for receiving tabs (31) of wing-spreading levers (3), said retainer clip comprising a pair of padding elements (2) covering said rounded returns (1a), keeping said free ends apart from each other and forming protectors for said windshield sheets.

2. A retaining clip according to claim 1, wherein the padding elements (2) are generally tubular in shape, are provided with an axial slot (22) separating a rear wall (20d) from at least one rounded front wall (20a, 20b, 20c) and are inserted on said rounded returns which fit into said axial slot (22) of said padding elements.

3. Holding clamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the padding elements have transverse slots (21) for passage of connecting rods (32) between the legs (31) and a loop (33) of the levers (3).

4. Padding element for clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that it is made of a molded polymer part.

5. Padding element according to claim 4, characterized in that the polymer is a polymer with a low coefficient of thermal expansion such as Polybutylene terephthalate PBT.

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